Turn on the tornado sirens and fire up the spray tan machine! Diabolical Facebook weatherman Aaron Tuttle is apparently suing us! We know this thanks to the “state’s most trusted news.” They broke the story late last night:
Former Oklahoma City TV meteorologist files lawsuit against local satirical website
A former TV meteorologist has filed a lawsuit against the writers of a local satirical website claiming they illegally obtained and posted his Facebook photos to “maliciously embarrass and defame” him.
The pictures, as they are posted by TheLostOgle.com, expose “Aaron Tuttle to public hatred, contempt and ridicule,” depriving him of public confidence, and injuring him in his occupation, the lawsuit alleges.
Yep, this appears to be real. Aaron Tuttle has finally found a copyright attorney who specializes in copyright law! Now if he can only find a therapist who specializes in therapy. Then he’ll be unstoppable.
Actually, I’m just kidding. The lawsuit is apparently real, but Aaron’s attorney is not a copyright attorney. It’s this guy. He’s the same dude who represented Dr. Harvey Jenkins in his lawsuit against us back in 2010. If you remember correctly, that ended with Dr. Jenkins dropping the lawsuit, sponsoring Ogle Madness and including us as a character in his “Housewives of the 405” comic book ads. Does that mean I should have sent Aaron a TLO Media Kit? I’m not sure how this stuff works.
Here’s more:
Aaron Tuttle, 42, filed the lawsuit Friday in Oklahoma County District Court.
Tuttle claims in his lawsuit he has suffered “economic injury” in excess of $10,000 and is seeking damages from writers Matthew Clarkson and Patrick Riley.
From 2001 to 2007, Tuttle worked at KOCO-5 as a meteorologist. Now, Tuttle “develops and provides weather forecasts for the web,” the lawsuit states.
The Lost Ogle website has published a number of stories over the years about Tuttle, which often reference his “bodybuilding” appearance.
$10,000?!?! Heh, we better win this thing or we’re going to have to organize one hell of a bake sale!
Also, who in the world is Matthew Clarkson? If I find out that Marisa has been using a pseudonym this entire time, I’m going to be more pissed than all those people who canceled plans in preparation for Aaron’s apocalyptic weather forecast that Emily Sutton disputed and never actually happened.
And by the way, we’ve done more than reference Tuttle’s “bodybuilding” appearance. For example, who can forget that time we posted that old audio where Aaron screamed and yelled at his KOCO co-workers:
The TLO Legal Defense Team, which is currently led by Sir John Michael, Esq., has recommended that we not talk too much about this situation since it involves pending litigation. Although I have not been served any papers, I’ll provide you with the same statement I gave to The Oklahoman:
“As it’s been widely reported, The Lost Ogle is a satirical news and information website. Whether it’s the governor of Oklahoma or a diabolical Facebook weatherman who enjoys exercise, we’re confident in our First Amendment rights to parody, criticize and make jokes about public figures.”
Fancy, huh.
Anyway, I planned on taking a break from creating content on the site during the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s. Just like you sometimes have to do for a spray tan machine, you have to recharge those obscure local social blogging batteries every now and then. I’m now going to get back to that break. I’ll (hopefully) see you in January. Merry Christmas.
Uh oh
Oh, tannin’ bomb.
+1
+12
(or +8, if reindeer are more your thing).
bless his heart.
Just read the petition. This attorney is clearly a moron. From referencing the co-defendant as “Matthew Clarkson”, then in the text of the petition as “Clark Matthews” to providing a brief description of Tuttle that makes him sound like a “public figure” (thus requiring a finding of “actual malice”), this lawsuit is pure crap. Furthermore, I think they have an uphill battle to prove damages. You can read the petition here:
http://www.oscn.net/dockets/GetDocument.aspx?ct=oklahoma&bc=1031584468&cn=CJ-2015-6853&fmt=pdf
“His reliability as a weather forecaster”
Lol okay
Geez Louise, can’t his attorney get someone to proofread his briefs? Guessing here but, “in excess of $10,00.00” means $10,000.01, and tells me his lawyer is soaking wet behind his ears.
Not defending the guy by any means but the OK statutes require that if you’re suing on something other than a contract, etc. where the damages are known, you must state whether it’s more or less than $10,000.
I read the petition in full. Thanks for posting the OSCN link to save us the research. The only thing I think I gained after having completed my review is learning that the attorney, Terry Pierce, signs his name with a big “M.”
” Now, Tuttle “develops and provides weather forecasts for the web,” the lawsuit states. ” So let me get this straight. Here’s a guy who apparently can put his entire net worth on the back of a cocktail napkin suing an organization that can list it’s assets on the inside of a matchbook. So if he accidentally wins how many Internet Zeros and Ones will he get?
Watch out, he’ll have his people find you on Facebook and send messages. Tuttle nor his fiance have tough skin like you would think they would.
You would think they would have tough, leathery skin with all the fake baking they both do.
“…Aaron Tuttle with his clients, prospective patients…”
Patients?? Is he a doctor now, or is he just playing on “the” Facebook social network?
His FB followers, perhaps?
Anybody else think Aaron T and Exotic Joe may share same DNA? hahahahahahahaha
They could start their own show the
“Joe Knows stuff with co-host Exotic On-line weather guru Tannin Tuttle!”
You gotta love that AT. Bringing more attention to what a total jerk-off asshole he is. So, so good!
Technically, he is not suing you for copyright infringement. He is suing you for invasion of privacy, defamation of character and “conversion,” which is kinda like copyright infringement in that he is claiming you appropriated his likeness and image, which he should be allowed to control. Either way, parody is a valid defense, and he has no case whatsoever, especially since he is a public figure. Fight him and pursue attorney’s fees.
If you need a witness, I’ll volunteer. Your site did nothing to make me think he’s a complete tool – he does that just fine by himself.
Patrick, please let us know if / when you are served with the lawsuit. Until that happens, the lawsuit doesn’t exist.
Meanwhile, enjoy all the excellent publicity that the site will be receiving as a result of the suit. Then the public can decide for itself who is the greater D-bag – you, or Aaron Tuttle.
I vote for AT! You can’t touch that guy for his level of douchebaggery. It’s astonishing.
Here’s an offer you can make to him: drop the suit, or you’ll continue to feature that audio of (allegedly) Tuttle screaming obscenities at his co-workers. Even if you have to stop running his pictures, he doesn’t own THAT!
So does this mean I need to delete my bookmark of his Facebook page? If anything, TLO has helped AT. I didn’t start reading his Facebook page until I saw his name on here. He should be sending you a check for all of the business you’ve sent his way!
Is this truly a grand scheme of things story that Patrick wants us to believe it to be?
“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.” —- Oscar Wilde
“There’s no such thing as bad publicity.” —- P.T. Barnum
Or is Patrick a protagonist for Tuttle’s cause?
I would have thought he would have hired the ambulance chasers, Maples, Dicks, and Dieselhorse to be his attorneys.
Their new building is as douchey as AT himself. It certainly would have made sense.
I think he has awoken a sleeping giant.